Patents by Inventor Stephen Estrop
Stephen Estrop has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9589540Abstract: A battery operated device, having a display with two or more available refresh rates, has its refresh rate selected so as to match the video frame rate of video data played back on the display. This selection is made by coordinating the resources in the device that are used to process the video from its reception through to its display.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2011Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Yongjun Wu, Shyam Sadhwani, Naveen Thumpudi, Stephen Estrop, Glenn Evans
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Publication number: 20160313970Abstract: A media engine may determine if a received media file is according to a format that includes metadata indicating gap information such as in the header of the file container. If metadata indicating gap information is detected that information may be provided to the media engine by a media file parser and used by the media engine to create a media stream with gap(s) removed based on the metadata. If the received media file does not include metadata indicating gap information, heuristics may be employed to estimate and remove gap(s) in the resulting media stream. The media stream may then be saved or played.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2015Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventors: Sumit Malhotra, Bala Sivakumar, Vlad Alexandrov, Stephen Estrop
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Patent number: 9030610Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Patent number: 8902363Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Publication number: 20140247394Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: September 4, 2014Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Patent number: 8687120Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Publication number: 20130141642Abstract: A battery operated device, having a display with two or more available refresh rates, has its refresh rate selected so as to match the video frame rate of video data played back on the display. This selection is made by coordinating the resources in the device that are used to process the video from its reception through to its display.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2011Publication date: June 6, 2013Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Yongjun Wu, Shyam Sadhwani, Naveen Thumpudi, Stephen Estrop, Glenn Evans
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Publication number: 20120176545Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Publication number: 20120172124Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Patent number: 8174620Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C Howard
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Publication number: 20090115905Abstract: High definition media content processing techniques are described in which enhanced media content rendering techniques may be performed to output high definition media content. In an implementation, luma keying may be provided to define clear pixels in a composite output using an optimum set of graphics processing instructions. In another implementation, techniques are described which may provide clear rectangles in a composite output of one or more video streams. Clear rectangles to appear in the composite output are configured by a media playback application. A texture is arrived at to represent a union of each of the clear rectangles and is applied to form the clear rectangles in the composite output. In another implementation, capture techniques are described in which an image to capture is resolved as strips to an intermediate texture and then from the texture to a capture buffer in system memory.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen Estrop, Matthew C. Howard
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Publication number: 20070296732Abstract: Techniques and tools for representing pixel data in a video processing or capture system are described. Described techniques and tools provide efficient color representation for video processing and capture, and provide flexibility for representing colors using different bit precisions and memory layouts. Described techniques and tools include video formats that can be used, for example, in hardware or software for capture, processing, and display purposes. In one aspect, chroma and luma information for a pixel in a video image is represented in a 16-bit fixed-point block of data having an integer and fractional components. Data can be easily converted from one representation to another (e.g., between 16-bit and 10-bit representations). In other aspects, formats for representing 8-, 10- and 16-bit video image data (e.g., packed and hybrid planar formats), and codes for indicating the formats, are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Glenn Evans, Stephen Estrop
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Publication number: 20070296861Abstract: Techniques and tools for representing pixel data in a video processing or capture system are described. Described techniques and tools provide efficient color representation for video processing and capture, and provide flexibility for representing colors using different bit precisions and memory layouts. Described techniques and tools include video formats that can be used, for example, in hardware or software for capture, processing, and display purposes. In one aspect, chroma and luma information for a pixel in a video image is represented in a 16-bit fixed-point block of data having an integer and fractional components. Data can be easily converted from one representation to another (e.g., between 16-bit and 10-bit representations). In other aspects, formats for representing 8-, 10- and 16-bit video image data (e.g., packed and hybrid planar formats), and codes for indicating the formats, are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2007Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Glenn Evans, Stephen Estrop
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Publication number: 20070204318Abstract: A video encoding acceleration service to increase one or more of the speed and quality of video encoding is described. The service acts as an intermediary between an arbitrary video encoder computer program application and arbitrary video acceleration hardware. The service receives one or more queries from the video encoder to identify implementation specifics of the video acceleration hardware. The service interfaces with the video acceleration hardware to obtain the implementation specifics. The service communicates the implementation specifics to the video encoder. The implementation specifics enable the video encoder to: (a) determine whether one or more of speed and quality of software encoding operations associated with the video encoder can be increased with implementation of a pipeline of one or more supported encoding pipeline configurations and capabilities, and (b) implement the pipeline by interfacing with the service.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2006Publication date: August 30, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Anand Ganesh, Donald Munsil, Gary Sullivan, Glenn Evans, Shyam Sadhwani, Stephen Estrop
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Publication number: 20070195101Abstract: Video frame buffers are controlled using a sequence of new-frame-indicators (e.g., FLIP) and no-new-frame-indicators (e.g., NOFLIP) in a frame indicator queue that is accessed with each display refresh. Video samples are loaded into a chain of video frame buffers that is “rotated” during the vertical blanking signal of the display to swap an old frame buffer out for a new frame buffer. The rotations of the frame buffer chain are controlled based on the frame indicators in the frame indicator queue to present new video samples to the display in a regular pattern, thereby providing smooth video playback.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Jay Senior, Stephen Estrop, Anuj Gosalia, David Blythe, Joseph Ballantyne, Kan Qiu, Gregory Swedberg, John Lee
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Publication number: 20070035559Abstract: Compositing functionality is provided in the form of an application program interface (API) that applications can utilize to composite images on video data that is to be rendered. In at least some embodiments, this functionality is exposed in a multimedia pipeline towards the end of the multimedia pipeline, such as at or by a renderer component. A set of methods exposed by the API permit an application to create and manage image compositing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2005Publication date: February 15, 2007Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alexandre Grigorovitch, Jay Senior, Jonathan Cain, Gurpratap Virdi, Sohail Mohammed, Kirt Debique, Gareth Howell, Tim Cowley, Miguel Valdez, Stephen Estrop
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Publication number: 20060146188Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating processing of interlaced video images for progressive video displays. In accordance with certain exemplary implementations, a method includes receiving from a renderer a query for a graphics device driver as to at least one graphics processing capability that can be performed by an associated graphics device in de-interlacing video data, communicating the query to the graphics device driver, receiving from the graphics device driver a response to the query that identifies the graphics processing capability/capabilities to the renderer, and communicating the response to the renderer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2006Publication date: July 6, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Stephen Estrop
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Publication number: 20060033814Abstract: Assessment of de-interlaced video quality is determined automatically by de-interlacing interlaced video content using a reference de-interlacer and a test de-interlacer. The reference de-interlacer produces a result of known quality and the test de-interlacer is one which is being assessed. The result from each de-interlacer is compared to reference video content to derive a signal-to-noise ratio for each relative to the reference video content. The difference in the signal-to-noise ratios is compared against a predefined threshold. If the difference is within the range defined by the threshold, the test de-interlacer is determined to produce an acceptable product.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2004Publication date: February 16, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Dragos Avadanei, Stephen Rowe, Stephen Estrop, Gary Sullivan
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Publication number: 20050200630Abstract: Techniques and tools for representing pixel data in a video processing or capture system are described. Described techniques and tools provide efficient color representation for video processing and capture, and provide flexibility for representing colors using different bit precisions and memory layouts. Described techniques and tools include video formats that can be used, for example, in hardware or software for capture, processing, and display purposes. In one aspect, chroma and luma information for a pixel in a video image is represented in a 16-bit fixed-point block of data having an integer and fractional components. Data can be easily converted from one representation to another (e.g., between 16-bit and 10-bit representations). In other aspects, formats for representing 8-, 10- and 16-bit video image data (e.g., packed and hybrid planar formats), and codes for indicating the formats, are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2004Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventors: Glenn Evans, Stephen Estrop
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Publication number: 20050204163Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and systems that utilize a protocol which enables media content protection by establishing a secure communication channel and, in some embodiments, a secure data channel, between a device such as a computing device running a protected content playback application, and a downstream component such as an associated driver, such as a graphics driver, of an associated display device such as a monitor, flat panel LCD, television and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2004Publication date: September 15, 2005Inventors: James Alkove, Stephen Estrop